OTTAWA – Singer Carrie Underwood and Ottawa Senators forward Mike Fisher can start making wedding plans now that their engagement is official.
Fisher confirmed Monday after the team’s morning skate at Scotiabank Place that he gave Underwood a ring Sunday and that they plan to marry. The couple have dated for more than a year and rumours were persistent for a month that they would get engaged at Christmas.
“It’s true,” said Fisher. “We’re both obviously excited and very happy and so, exciting times for sure,” said Fisher, who had been reluctant to speak about the relationship. A date has not been set for the wedding.
It’s believed Fisher, 29, gave Underwood, 26, the ring at his West Carleton home Sunday with his parents in attendance. Underwood had been in Ottawa for a few days and watched Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, where Fisher recorded his 300th NHL career point in the team’s 4-1 win.
While news of the couple’s engagement was certainly a hot topic Monday, Fisher and Underwood went about their own business. Fisher was with his teammates at his regular morning skate at Scotiabank Place, preparing for Monday night’s game against Boston.
Meanwhile, Underwood visited Tony Greco’s fitness studio in Kanata and stayed for about an hour. She arrived by herself and staff confirmed she worked out.
The couple had made a tentative lunch reservation Monday at Fratelli’s restaurant in Kanata, but were a no-show.
Fans at the Senators’ game were clearly delighted with the news. When someone held a sign up late in the first period that said “˜Congratulations, Mike and Carrie,’ they were met with applause.
Jacquie Wilson, of Ottawa, said that the pair “makes a nice couple. It’s great that they are together,” said Wilson.
Debbie Pilon, of Stittsville, echoed the widely felt sentiment. “I think she is a sweet girl. I watched her special on TV last night. I’m a fan,” said Pilon.
Cassie Stewart of Kemptville said news that Fisher is officially off the market “is kind of disappointing.” Like most people at the game, however she said she was happy for them.
Serge Stewart of Kemptville took a more humorous approach to the news.
“Is Carrie now going to be Carrie Fisher, and is she now going to have two buns in her hair?” – a reference to Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher.
“Honestly, that is the most important question,” he said.
Underwood was asked last month what her family thought of Fisher, and she said they were supportive.
“They love me and I would hope my parents would think “˜we raised a good, smart girl, so she’s going to do the right thing no matter what it is’,” she told The Associated Press.
In the liner notes to her current CD, Play On, Underwood gushed about Fisher. She wrote: “Thank you No. 12 (referring to his jersey number). You are the most amazing addition to my life.”
After the morning skate, Fisher took time Monday to sign autographs and pose for photos outside Scotiabank Place with a family who had waited for more than three hours in the cold. Fisher was about to drive home after the practice, but got out of his truck to talk to the fans.
Andrea Bush said her three-year-old son, Braeden, is a big Mike Fisher fan and she wanted him to sign her son’s hockey jersey.
“That was priceless,” said Bush, after Fisher posed with her son for a photo.
When asked at that time, Fisher did not elaborate much on the engagement.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he said of his engagement while posing for a photograph outside his truck. He said Underwood’s family was not present when she got her ring.
Fisher’s teammates were quick to congratulate him.
“Good for him. It’s great. I’m pretty interested to see how he got engaged. He probably took her out to the Back 40 (behind his house) or something. Even TMZ is in here today,” said winger Shean Donovan. “I know I’m not in the wedding party. I was just hoping to get an invitation.”
Winger Chris Neil, a long-time Fisher roommate, was also happy with the news.
“I think it’s great. It’s a long time coming. There are going to be a lot of broken hearts here in Ottawa, all those girls who are in love with Mikey. But he’s marrying an awesome girl. We’re ecstatic for him, me and my wife (Caitlin). It’s unbelievable for him.”
He said the news about Fisher’s engagement broke on the Internet long before it was officially confirmed.
“You guys probably knew before I did,” Neil told reporters.
“It came out on, I think on Twitter, probably about 20 minutes after it happened. Mike called me shortly after and told me the good news, so it’s great.”
Late Monday, a bouquet of white roses were delivered to Fisher’s home in West Carleton. The roses came from Marry Me Productions, an Ottawa wedding planning firm that handled Jason Spezza’s wedding in July.
Fisher accepted the roses, but he did not come outside.
With files from Ken Warren
and James Gordon
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